Athletics
2026 World Indoor Championships
Kate O’Connor delivered another landmark moment for Irish athletics, securing bronze in the pentathlon at the 2026 World Indoor Championships and further cementing her place among the country’s most consistent championship performers.
Her 4,820-point total represented a significant step forward, 97 points higher than her silver-medal performance the previous year, underlining clear progression in a technically demanding, five-discipline event. Notably, that score would have been enough to claim gold in the previous edition of the championships, highlighting both the quality of her performance and the rising standard of the event.
In doing so, O’Connor enters rare company in Irish athletics history. She becomes just the third Irish athlete to win multiple medals at the World Indoor Championships, following in the footsteps of middle-distance legends Marcus O’Sullivan (1987, 1989) and Frank O’Mara (1987, 1991).
Across the five events, O’Connor delivered a high-quality, consistent series rather than relying on multiple personal bests. She matched or came close to her established level in four of the five disciplines, before producing a decisive performance in the final event.
That came in the 800 metres, where she ran a personal best of 2:10.26 to secure the bronze medal, underlining her growing strength in the closing stages of combined events and her ability to deliver under pressure.
Only two Irish athletes, Sonia O’Sullivan and Catherina McKiernan, have now won more individual global medals at senior championships.
The result also marks Ireland’s 12th medal in World Indoor Championships history, further reinforcing the nation’s continued presence on the global stage across a broader range of disciplines.
- Elsewhere, Nicholas Griggs delivered an impressive performance to finish 9th in the men’s 3000m (7:39.03), with Andrew Coscoran placing 13th in the same event (7:43.89).
- In the middle-distance events, Mark English finished 14th in the men’s 800m (1:46.70), while in the women’s 800m, Maeve O’Neill placed 18th (2:02.46) and Emma Moore ran 2:02.00 to finish 5th in her heat. Notably, O’Neill progressed to the semi-finals.
- On the sprint side, Lauren Roy placed 19th in the women’s 60m (7.23), with Ciara Neville finishing 31st (7.31). Roy also advanced to the semi-finals. In the men’s 60m, Bori Akinola ran 6.60 to finish 15th overall, progressing to the semi-finals.
- In the hurdles, Sarah Lavin placed 32nd in the women’s 60m hurdles (8.08).
- In the men’s 1500m, James Gormley finished 29th overall (3:50.71).
Equestrian
Five-star Longines League of Nations, Ocala
Ireland’s senior show jumping team delivered an excellent performance to finish second at the Longines League of Nations in Ocala, Florida, continuing their strong run in elite international competition.
The Irish quartet of Bertram Allen, Cian O’Connor, Tom Wachman and Shane Sweetnam produced a composed display across both rounds, including three clear rounds in the opening phase to put Ireland firmly in contention.
They maintained that level in the second round on a challenging track, with Shane Sweetnam delivering a crucial double clear, helping secure a runner-up finish.
“It was a great Longines League of Nations tonight with some strong teams and a tough track… we had a super first round with three clears.”
The result reinforces Ireland’s position among the leading nations in global show jumping, with the team continuing to build momentum as the League of Nations series progresses.
Swimming
Giant Open Meet, Paris
Irish swimmers delivered a series of standout performances in Paris this weekend, highlighted by multiple Irish records and consistent podium finishes as preparations continue to build toward the upcoming Irish Open.
- John Shortt produced the performance of the weekend, setting a new Irish Senior Record in the 200m Backstroke with a time of 1:56.07 to take gold, lowering his previous mark of 1:56.19 set during his World Junior gold medal campaign. The National Centre Limerick swimmer also broke the Irish 100m Backstroke record, clocking 53.37 to win silver, and added another silver medal in the 50m Backstroke with a time of 25.01.
“I’m really happy with that swim. It’s a good step forward at this stage of the season and gives me confidence heading into the Irish Open.”
- Competing in the same venue that will host the 2026 European Championships this summer, Ellen Walshe delivered an outstanding series of performances, securing multiple podium finishes. She claimed silver in the 400m Individual Medley (4:39.71), before adding further silver medals in the 200m Butterfly (2:09.19) and 200m Individual Medley (2:10.97), underlining her consistency across disciplines.
- Ellie McCartney continued her strong form with multiple podium finishes, securing silver in the 200m Breaststroke (2:24.51) and adding another silver in the 100m Breaststroke Final (1:07.46). She was also narrowly outside the medals in the 200m Individual Medley, finishing fourth in 2:12.60, just seven hundredths of a second off the podium.
- Elsewhere, National Centre Limerick swimmers Eoin Corby and Jack Cassin both recorded fifth-place finishes, with Corby clocking 2:14.60 in the 200m Breaststroke and Cassin posting 1:59.54 in the 200m Butterfly Final. Cassin also placed 7th in the 100m Butterfly (53.32).
The performances in Paris reflect strong early-season form across the Irish squad, with athletes building momentum ahead of the Irish Open Championships in Bangor, taking place from 4 to 8 April 2026.